Leandra's Law

It is now a felony in New York to drive drunk or under the influence of drugs with a child in the vehicle, and will require first-time driving-while-intoxicated (DWI) offenders to install an ignition interlock device in their vehicles.
· Under the law, first-time offenders with a blood alcohol content of .08 or more or under the influence of drugs, and with a child age 15 or under in the vehicle, will automatically have their drivers license suspended, will have to install a ignition interlock device in their car and may be charged with a Class E felony punishable up to four years in prison.
· Intoxicated drivers who cause serious injury to a child may be charged with a Class C felony punishable up to 15 years in prison, and drunken drivers who cause the death of a child will be charged with a Class B felony that could bring up to 25 years in prison.
· In addition to the increased sanctions, parents caught driving impaired with their children will be reported to the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment.
Gov. David A. Paterson signed the Child Passenger Protection Act, known as Leandra's Law in honor of 11-year-old Leandra Rosado, who was killed in a drunken driving accident in October.
According to Paterson, Leandra's Law will set some of the toughest DWI penalties in the nation and will provide law enforcement officials with the tools they need to prosecute DWI offenders.
New York now joins 35 other states that have child endangerment laws imposing tougher DWI sanctions against drivers who put children at risk. New York is also the 13th state to require mandatory interlock ignitions.
At the signing of the Leandra’s Law, Lenny Rosado, Leandra's father, stood nearby, holding a picture of his daughter while tears streamed down his face.
"On that night of October 11, I lost my only child," Rosado said while choking back tears. "As a single parent, she was my heart, my soul and my best friend."
On October 11, Leandra Rosado and six of her friends were packed into a car driven by Carmen Huertas, the mother of one of the girls. Huertas was taking the girls to a slumber party.
Authorities later said Huertas was driving drunk and played a guessing game with the girls, asking them to "raise their hands if they thought they would make it home without crashing."
While speeding up the Henry Hudson Parkway, the car flipped. Leandra Rosado was thrown from the vehicle and died from head and chest injuries. Her six friends and Huertas survived the crash.
Huertas has since been charged with manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, and assault, according to the Manhattan district attorney's office.
Since losing his daughter, Lenny Rosado has turned his grief into action. At the bill-signing ceremony, Rosado said that the day after Leandra died, he made the decision to fight for tougher DWI laws because he didn't want to see another parent or grandparent lose their child in such a reckless way. "From here on, those that think it's OK to drink and drive with children in the car ... will pay the price," Rosado said. "My daughter's name and Leandra's Law will save lives from here on. Her legacy will live."

Basketball Free Throw Championship

Basketball Free Throw Championship
When: Saturday January 16, 2010
Where: St. Catherine of Sienna School Gym
Time: 2 p.m. Thru 6 p.m.

All Girls and Boys 10-14 Years of Age (as of 12/31/09)
are eligible to participate and will compete in the respective age divisions. All contestants on the local level are recognized for their participation in the event. However individual age winners will receive engraved plaques for their achievement and subsequently move onto district competition.

Contestants must furnish proof of written parental consent in order to participate . Entry forms will be available the day of the competition. For additional information contact Joe Camolli at (516)352-2902

Nassau County New Silver Alert Program

The Silver Alert Program has been established in order to disseminate immediate information to local media, hospitals and other organizations when a senior citizen or other individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or other cognitive disorders. These alerts will contain the following information:

· The missing person’s name.
· The missing person’s age.
· A physical description of the missing person, including, if known, a description of the clothing he/she was last seen wearing.
· The last location where the missing person was seen.
· The description of any motor vehicle the missing individual may be driving and the direction it was last seen traveling.
· If available, a photo of the missing person. (If a photo is not available at the time of the alert, one will be sent when it is received)

Sale of Alcohol to Minors

I wonder if you can help me.
I am the mother of two teenagers in Franklin Square.
I've known that teenagers can buy beer at the store near my house.
Recently one of the teenagers told me that the owner charges the kids double the normal price of the beer, because he knows they are underage.

Is this something your department can follow up on?
I look forward to hearing from you.
CG
Thanks!


Dear CG,

Every month the 5th Precinct Pop Unit goes out into the Community and visits stores who sell alcohol. This program named "Project 21" monitors the sale of alcoholic beverages to minors. On November 20, numerous arrests were made within the confines of the 5th Precinct.

Please contact the Pop Unit at 573-6570 or ncpd5thpopsd17@gmail.com if you have any leads, information or concerns.

Police Advisory

During the holiday season, police are advising residents to take precautionary measures to protect their homes and vehicles. The busy holiday season and early nightfall are some factors which elevate the number of property crimes. Dark homes and overgrown shrubbery are an invitation to a potential thief.

People can minimize potential criminal activity (burglaries and larcenies from vehicles) by recognizing suspicious activity in their community and reporting such behavior to the police by dialing 911.

Consider the following activities as suspicious:
· A person or vehicle that stays in the same place for an unusual length of time
· A parked car with the engine running
· A person looking into cars or houses
· A person carrying unusual objects during the day or night
· Vehicles that drive around your block frequently slowing down or speeding up
· A vehicle without lights on when arriving or leaving at night
· Unfamiliar vehicles such as those with out of state plates or tinted windows
· Persons going door to door. If they knock for a prolonged time or go to the rear or side door
· Persons walking through your backyard

Precautions:
· Even if you park in your driveway or in front of your own home, lock your vehicle. Put all packages in the trunk out of view. Do not leave the GPS, I-pods, cell phone, cd case, wallet, pocketbook or cash/change in clear view.
· Make certain that your home is locked and secured. Make sure your security system is activated. Consider using light timers. Alert neighbors if you plan on going away for an extended period to remove mail or newspapers/flyers. Have someone park in your driveway to make it look someone is at home.

Above all people should rely on their intuition when they suspect unusual behavior or activity. Call 911 whenever you observe suspicious activity and provide as much information as possible.